Shipping-crate.



P i m m U fiidw/lzm INVENTOR I ATTOR N'EY PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC STRIPE, OF AULTMAN, OHIO.

SHIPPING-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

' Application filed November 26,1904. Serial No; 234,334.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC STRIPE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Aultman, county of Stark, State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Shipping-Crates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shipping-crates; and it consists in providing means for folding and also means for providing a suitable handle when the crate is brought into position for use; and it consists in the novel arrangement hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one end of the crate detached at its upper portion. Fig. 2 is a view showing a portion of the crate, showing the top members hooked together and the handle in proper position. Fig. 3 is a view showing the crate partially folded. Fig. i. is a transverse section showing the same folded and the handle hooked to bind the parts in a folded position.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 represents the bottom or rectangular frame of the crate proper and is formed of a size to correspond with the length and width of the crate designed to be constructed.

For the purpose of providing a suitable bottom for the crate the cross-wires 2 and 3 are provided, which cross-wires are hooked around the frame-wire 1, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1. To the bottom frame 1 are connected the ends 4 and 5 and the sides 6 and 7, said parts being formed of such a size that a crate of suitable height and length and width will be produced.

It Will be understood that for the construction of various-sized crates various-sized bottoms, ends, and sides must be produced, which consist of wires properly connected and joined together to form substantially rectangular structures.

For the purpose of providing a crate that can be folded the bottom or lower ends of the wires constituting the vertical membersof the end and side members are hooked around the bottom frame 1, substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1, by means of hooked ends 8, and for the purpose of holding the vertical members in proper relation with reference to each other the bottom frame 1 is provided with the bends 9, which bends are spaced from each other a distance equal to the distance it is designed to locate the vertical members apart. The top wires 10 and 11 are each provided with the bends 12, which bends are spaced apart and are for the purpose of holding the vertical wires of the end members and side members in proper relationship with each other at their top or upper ends by means of the books 13. The top members 10 and 11 are each provided at their ends with the books 144, which hooks are for the purpose of connecting the top wires together at their angles, by which arrangement a detachable rectangular frame is produced, by which arrangement the side members and end members of the crate proper can be secured together in such a manner that a receptacle will be produced.

For the purpose of providing suitable braces for the side and end members the brace-wires 15 and 16 are provided, which brace-wires extend diagonally across the side and end members. The brace-wires 15 are preferably connected at their ends to the top wires 11 and to the bottom wire 1 and the crosswires 16 attached at their ends to the outer vertical wires of the end members 4 and 5; but I do not desire to be confined to any particular manner of attaching the brace-Wires, as the only object designed to be accomplished is to provide suitable rigidity, and it is obvious that this can be accomplished with special reference to the particular manner of attaching the bracewires.

For the purpose of providing a handle for the crate the bails 17 and 18 are provided, which bails are connected to the outer wires of the side members 6 and 7 below the tops of the braces 15 and are so attached that the bails can be moved downward and upon the outer sides of the side members. To the bails 17 is pivotally attached the handle 19, which handle is provided with the hook 20, which book is adapted to engage the bend 21, formed in the bail 18. Then it is desired to fold the crate, the top wires 10 and 11 are detached, the bails slid downward, and the side and end members folded practically parallel with the bottom, which fold may be inward or outward, as desired, and if the height of the side members exceeds the width of the bottom the folds should be outward for one side and inward for the opposite side. After the end and side members have been properly folded the handle 19 can be brought into the position illus- IIO ' rectangular bottom having pivotally attached to the end and side members thereof, the side and end members of the crate, top wires secured to said end and side members, bails adjustably secured to the side members, a handle pivotally attached to one of the adjustable bails and detachably attached to the other adjustable bail, the side and end members, the bails and handles adapted to be folded and the handle adapted to bind the members in a folded condition, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a shipping-crate of the class described, the combination of a rectangular receptacle, the tops of the end and side members thereof adapted to be detachably connected together, said side and end members adapted to be folded, bottom and top wires provided with bends and the vertical wires of the side and end members secured at the points of the bends, and means for holding the parts of the crate in a folded condition, substantially as and for the purpose specified. y

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC STRIPE. Witnesses:

J. A. JEFFERS, F. W. BOND. 

